We are currently on our Spring Tour of the SE- where we started with a full service of The Beast in Gaffney, SC by Freightliner Custom Chassis Service Center. "The service took 1 1/2 days, even with 2 people on it because we had to have the exhaust brake replaced and they ordered the part. We arrived in Gaffney on Tuesday, May 27 and stayed in their "camp area" for 3 nights. They have electricity at each site, water available to fill your tank but not on site and a dump station. We were definitely not the only ones taking advantage of their expertise, the 6 service bays were in action the whole time we were there. We left Thursday afternoon and took a short run down I-85 towards Clemson, where we had reserved a space in Twin Lakes Campground. This is one of 9 COE parks ( 7 have electricity & water on each site) on Hartwell Lake.
As you can see, the site is nice and spacious. We are on the Lake, overlooking an inlet on one side and the Lake on the other. The site is a back-in and has a steeper grade than I expected. I had to have Bruce take the hitch off to ensure we didn't dig ourselves into the site, but once that was accomplished we situated The Beast rather quickly. It is very private and no other site really overlooks us or we them. The best of both worlds.
Obviously leveling The Beast, hooking up the utilities and getting the table situated was very strenuous work so a rest was in order before dinner. Even Hazel needed R & R. As you can see, there is no rest for the person making dinner, that idea clearly represented by the empty seat next to Bruce. (Yea, I know- someone has to be taking the pictures, that is unless I am very, very clever with the camera's timer - Not!) In any case, the day concluded with a lovely sunset (again caught on camera by the elusive picture taker).It has been a week since those pctures were taken and I have not been inclined to take too many others. The weekend came and went and we stayed in the campground- watching people. Of course we had to ride around at least 3 times on Friday to spy who had arrived and what they were using as their "home away from home". The weather was overcast Saturday but still nice to be outside. Sunday the rain set in and we spent the day lolly gagging inside, reading books and dozing. Even Hazel refused to go outside. I, of course, got in quite a bit of library book reading over the first several days when we stayed in camp ( last count 7) and now just have to keep renewing the books I was foolish enough to bring with me until we return or find some way to get them back to the St. Johns County library without breaking the bank - Time to explore how many books will fit into a priority mail package. I guess as long as no one else requests them I can chance just renewing them- what a dilemma.
Monday was shopping and laundry day, so of course very uneventful. On Tuesday we began our COE park review process . Of the 6 other parks with facilities, one is a group camp and is discounted in this review. By visiting the other 5, we can look at the park and its facilities (showers, sites, internal roads, etc.), talk with the hosts and understand the condition of the roads getting to them. That is always a consideration when you drive a brick on wheels. The surprise elevation change backing into our own site at Twin Lakes has made us much more curious than we might have been if all of these campgrounds were was more level ground. So far we have reviewed 2 of the 5- (Oconee Point & Coneross) and are still partial to Twin Lakes. For you COE enthusiasts- we only founds 4-5 sites in Oconee Point that would take our motorhome easily and nothing in Coneross, it is really set up for smaller rigs and trailers.
Yesterday we spent the day exploring Anderson, including of course the thrift stores. The downtown is wonderful, historical buildings, lots of small shops, and restaurants - definitely set up for the tourist and university trade to enjoy. Today we visited Clemson, both the town and the University and the close city of Seneca. Clemson University is beautiful and the town is typical university town, very small, most things within walking/biking distance of the university and definitely supporting the school. As well as Clemson University being here, Southern Wesleyan is in the vicinity too. So we have had a nice time riding around, visiting the area, etc. Tomorrow we hope to get to the other 3 COE parks in the morning and then get back here for the arrival of all of the weekend campers. That is always the highlight of a stay in one of these parks, watching the people back in and set up new campers, motorhomes and especially pop-ups and tents. All campers are subject to this same review when they arrive at any park, so our plan is to always try to arrive in mid-week and early, before we are the highlight for the other campers.
Well, I am up to date and it is time to put this to rest and post so until next time.
